That Generation Y--they just aren't like us. They're optimistic. They
think they're going to be famous. They love social networking online.
They don't really like to satiate their earthly desires to
pornography.
At least that's the theory put forth by Bill
Tancer. Tancer, in his analysis of Internet searches, found that the
percentage of online searches attributable to pornography is
decreasing. He attributes this to the growth of young adult's
engagement with online social networks. If people spend more time on
MySpace then they don't have time to search for naked pictures of Sarah Palin (an activity more popular than searching for her governmental policies).
At the core of this argument is the concept of human isolation. Both social networking and pornography are means by which people, in the privacy--and lonliness--of their bedroom, alleviate their feelings of isolation by connecting with virtual bodies, in one case your high school girlfriend's Facebook profile, in the other a naked chick who looks like your high school girlfriend doing unspeakable acts with a sow.
I wouldn't dispute that people are feeling more isolated than ever. In fact, a recent study revealed that over a 1/4 of Americans say they have no confidant. I wouldn't dispute that social networking is all about relieving our feelings of isolation. We post bills on the walls of the digital playground to shout, "I am here" and hope that someone hears.
I do find it hard to believe that feelings of isolation are the primary driver of engagement with pornography. Pornography is not a palliative for lonliness. It's actually one act where we don't want to connect with others online (unless of course it involves scoring with an actual body).
Instead, pornography is a tool for disciplining the body. People view porn to gain control over desires that are uncontrollable: our arousal, those persistent thoughts about sexing it up, when we satiate those desires with another body. Porn is just a double-click away. Watching it, we regain control of that annoying distraction we call sexuality.
There are a number of critics who disagree with Tancer's methodology. We still watch digital porn--maybe more than ever. We just search for it in a different way.
As pornography has always been ahead of the curve in terms of technology adoption, perhaps we should be learning from these behaviors.
While watching porn, of course.
Fleshbot
Silicon Alley Insider
think they're going to be famous. They love social networking online.
They don't really like to satiate their earthly desires to
pornography.
At least that's the theory put forth by Bill
Tancer. Tancer, in his analysis of Internet searches, found that the
percentage of online searches attributable to pornography is
decreasing. He attributes this to the growth of young adult's
engagement with online social networks. If people spend more time on
MySpace then they don't have time to search for naked pictures of Sarah Palin (an activity more popular than searching for her governmental policies).
At the core of this argument is the concept of human isolation. Both social networking and pornography are means by which people, in the privacy--and lonliness--of their bedroom, alleviate their feelings of isolation by connecting with virtual bodies, in one case your high school girlfriend's Facebook profile, in the other a naked chick who looks like your high school girlfriend doing unspeakable acts with a sow.
I wouldn't dispute that people are feeling more isolated than ever. In fact, a recent study revealed that over a 1/4 of Americans say they have no confidant. I wouldn't dispute that social networking is all about relieving our feelings of isolation. We post bills on the walls of the digital playground to shout, "I am here" and hope that someone hears.
I do find it hard to believe that feelings of isolation are the primary driver of engagement with pornography. Pornography is not a palliative for lonliness. It's actually one act where we don't want to connect with others online (unless of course it involves scoring with an actual body).
Instead, pornography is a tool for disciplining the body. People view porn to gain control over desires that are uncontrollable: our arousal, those persistent thoughts about sexing it up, when we satiate those desires with another body. Porn is just a double-click away. Watching it, we regain control of that annoying distraction we call sexuality.
There are a number of critics who disagree with Tancer's methodology. We still watch digital porn--maybe more than ever. We just search for it in a different way.
As pornography has always been ahead of the curve in terms of technology adoption, perhaps we should be learning from these behaviors.
While watching porn, of course.
Fleshbot
Silicon Alley Insider
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